National : January 11, 2026: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with Defence Minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh, inaugurated Ashok Leyland’s new EV manufacturing plant on Friday. The dignitaries inspected the facility and planted vermilion and Rudraksha saplings on the premises. Congratulating the Hinduja family on their investment, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude for their trust in the Uttar Pradesh government, describing the project as highly significant for the state.
The Chief Minister noted that the plant currently has an annual manufacturing capacity of 2,500 units, which will be increased to 5,000 units in phases. He said, “The project reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to industrial growth alongside environmental protection, as well as the shared resolve to prepare for global challenges such as climate change and environmental disruptions. The electric vehicle manufacturing facility is part of these efforts and has generated direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of youth in Uttar Pradesh.”
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s Vision 2047, CM Yogi said that every citizen is committed to making India a Viksit and Atmanirbhar nation by that year. He described the Ashok Leyland plant as a significant step towards advancing the goals of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
CM Yogi said that Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle manufacturing plant has been established under the state’s FDI and Fortune 500 policy. He recalled that prior to 2017, Uttar Pradesh’s share in foreign direct investment was negligible, but proactive policies have since enabled the state to attract global investors and Fortune 500 companies. Highlighting the efficiency of governance, he said the MoU for the project was signed in September 2023, followed by the completion of the Letter of Intent and land allotment process in January 2024. The commissioning of a world-class manufacturing facility within just 18 months, he said, is a direct outcome of the double-engine government’s fast-track approvals and robust governance framework.
He added, “In 2024, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 19 percent of India’s total electric vehicle market. The state has also emerged as a major beneficiary of the FAME I and FAME II schemes, with 700 electric buses currently operating across Uttar Pradesh.”
Referring to the bus manufactured at the new plant, CM Yogi said it is a 17–18 seater vehicle priced at approximately ₹15 lakh, designed for school transportation and inter-city connectivity. He added that the manufacturing of such vehicles will receive a significant boost under the state’s Electric Vehicle Policy. The Chief Minister also announced that the Hinduja Group will sign an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government to provide skill development training to 10,000 youth annually at the facility.
He said the EV sector holds immense significance in terms of new skills, emerging technologies, and future-ready employment, and that ITIs, polytechnics, and engineering institutions are being strengthened to prepare youth for this transition. With the country’s largest workforce, Uttar Pradesh, he said, is poised to redefine itself as a state of trust and transformation.
Ashok Leyland Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja welcomed the dignitaries at the event, while MD and CEO Shenu Agarwal expressed gratitude. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Cabinet Ministers Suresh Khanna and Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, MLA Rajeshwar Singh, and other distinguished guests were also present.
